Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-14
THREE LINKS IN A CHAIN

L Il 4 d..
Neither the brush nor the pen, but the
lancet and the scalpel, are properly my
tools, and yet for an hour past | lave beer
occupied in delineating on the canvas OF
memory certain scenes that belong 10 the
past The reverie painted pictures are
three I'm number, and each is vivid, sharply
defined and stands conspicuously out in
its setting Of trivial or eXacting crcum-
stance Have they anything in common,
despite their seeming Gissociationi | be-
gin 10 think so. A more dubious prob
lem: II there is indeed a hidden secret
link between these events, Will the dis
coyery thereof aid or hinder the rcaliza-
ton Of my dearest hopey have at pres
ent no answer 10 this question.
The first scene imagination has CON
jurod anew before me with all the exact
ness OF realism reveals the interior of a
jewelers. shop in Reuford, my native
town. II is n fine large business apart
mcnt, with its walls lined with cases dis
playing through their polished glass costly
articles OF yIrtu-for Nh Huntloy mag
uillcs his trade, and is n collcctor-and
rs counters spread with more cases hold
ing in dainty nests gold and silver and
precious stones fashioned in many forms
Of use and ornament Mr. IlUutlcys
shopmnu * busy i'm the front roarrancing
q portion Of the stock; his employer and
are discussing i'm the Office, scm-par-
titioncd of no the rear, q question Of local
politics having no sort of connection with
the present narrative. Ny father is vicar
of Ronford; and Mr. Iluutlcy, rs long as
/ can rccollect, Las been Wears church.
waIdcn-hence the intimacy between us;
and although | have commenced the study
Of medicine, and look spccdily TO sever the
tie OF residence i'm the quiet western town.
/ am still interested in local Affairs. sud
denly the shop do9rs-thrce are wisely
tWo-opCn one after the othcr-the inner
one with q elarp little jerk that hetOkcus
nervousness or haste on the part Of the
prospective customer. The austerc young
man who is polishing an enamel brooch
deity replace h., slides back tine case bot
tom with a subduod click. and waits I'm
an attitude Of dclcrcnt.al attention.
Standing at right angles 20 Mr.. IIuntley's
desk. am facing The shoD and the street
and however injurious, am compelled TO
see and hear what passes
IL is young girl-she may be -.
she may be oldcr-who has entered, and
there is something about her that | find
Z
me- ana therefore, perhaps observe more
particularly the slim. shapely figure,
fawnlike i'm is timid yet graceful move
mcnts; the pretty piquaut profile; 10 clear
complexion, with the pink spot, telling Of
excitement, in the center of the leau,i-
fully moulded cheek, the maynard golden
cur.s. That defy The restraint of the sim-
pie san hat; and the drcss Of soft creamy
white. which so admirably suits both its
owner aud the pleasant summer weather
Erect energetic, with IN evident sense OF
humiliation playing the foil to a touch Of
unconscious hautcur-tLc vision comes
back aus ! write.
"You wish 20 see the principal, Miss?
DID ! understand correctly
The girl cave quick gesture Of assent;
the assistant calls iu, master, and / left
with only tie occupation of the oulookcr
From small threadb1re rcticule / see
produced bracelet, n ring and one or two
other articles, which seemed 10 have
formed part of a fashionable lady's outfit
Of jewclry The color has dccpcucd on
the maidcn's face. and ann fancyinC that
she is az once proud OF Ter possessions
and anxious as q the result Of her present
enterprise. She has reason FOR her auXioty,
OF which il is charitable 20 believe she
suspects nothing | viii be bold to say
that one cannot watch the changing
lights and shadows of her countcnauce
and think her the originator or Willful nc
complete OF fraud.
"Thcsc-what can YOU give me for
these she asks iu a low. quiycriug voice
"Nou do buy gems, ! believe; these are
very valuable, am told. She does not
appear to have The smallest appreciation
OF the fact that "a r. pcctablc tradcsman
win hardly make a random offer for Jewels
that can bee thus described. without ia
Qu.ry not only as 80 the bona iidCs If the
applicant, but rs 20 the authority also for
the sale.
But this stage IS never reached Mr..
Euutley hg- taken up one 10y one the
cleaning wares, and one by one laid them
aside after on inspection which has its
result in making him phenomenally
grave and chasing storm line across
his forehead. Have you any idea of the
worth OF these articles. or Of either--any
one Of tbcm' he dlyly asked.
/ thin!; both The assistant and myself in.
stinctycly pric, up our ears. The girl,
too is startled by his tone. Il have been
assured-papl said it-that The stones Ia
the bracelet alone cost G2J0.
he E4tllNc WIN Nll4lA size meets MI.
Huutloy's keen look is as open as tie day,
and tho expires ion on the jewelcr's face
turns to one OF pity. Il could not give
You as many shillings, miss. The stones
are clever limitations, and that is all.
There is not one genuine amongst those
You have shown me Mir. Skirrow, let
me have your opinion.
The assistant confirms the unilattcring
Judgment, and docs il with a snccr that /
felt disroee4, th1ugh with no valid reason
10 resent.
The crimson tide has cbhcd anl TIT
girls checks arc biaHchcd; her lips culver,
and 10 first No sound comes from .hcm,
her eyes slowly fll with tears fear
that she may drop in a swOon, hut this
womans weakness size does not seem 10
share. There are seconds Of intolerabla
suspense for Us all. At last there is a half
stllcd cry: "Jackl how could your'
II il plain that she accepts the stu
alton. and that her thoughts are even
now busy with the solution Of her dark
enigma ror the moment She has for
gotten her embodiment, and she muir
murs her vain protest against the--to U.s.
unknown culprit whose duplicity. how
n,.gr cN,rcfcgI has Ulrrp0od ler fr,+o az,